LOWER-DELMARVA-ROOTS-L Archives

From: Al Wootten <>
Subject: Priscilla's maiden name
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 15:25:23 -0400

Mark -- you wrote, on Lower-Delamrva-Roots:
> > Elisha C. PARSONS
> > b. abt 1809 Worcester Co., MD
> > m 16 Feb 1824 Worcester Co., MD
> > sp: Mary ESHOM,
> > d. 4 April 1887 Wicomico Co., MD
> > Father: William J. PARSONS
> > Mother: Priscilla RICHARDSON
> >
> Do you have any documentation for Priscilla's maiden name? I have
> parker for a maiden name. I realize that Ruth T. Dryden's book states
> she was a Richardson but I don't believe it's correct.
Hi, Mark

Now to confuse things further, Mrs. Shannonhouse
was always convinced that Priscilla's name was Disharoon! She did
have a marriage record of a William Parsons to Priscilla Disharoon,
as I recall it in Snow Hill. Last I corresponded with her she was
hard at work researching the Disharoons.

William J. (Billie) Parsons married Priscilla Parker, a fact for which I
offer the following evidence:

I have Xeroxed and forwarded to you a letter from Aunt Hes
Elizabeth Mary Hester PARSONS, b. 1847., d. 1941 concerning this.
William J. (Billie) Parsons father was Will Peter Parsons, who was
also Aunt Hes' grandfather. She knew stories of Uncle Billie, and she states
that he married 'my mother's aunt Priscilla Parker' in the letter.
This establishes that her mother's aunt and Priscilla Parker were
sisters.

Her mother was Katherine Truitt Parsons b. 1809 who married my
great grandfather Isaac Henry Parsons b. 1819. I have a Bible
record which gives the family of Katherine Truitt:
"George Truitt of Job was born the ninth day of September, 1758.
His wife Betsy Parker was born the fourth day of April 1765. They
were married on the tenth day of February 1785.
Their children...#11 Katie Truitt was born the second day of June 1809.

This establishes that Betsy Parker and Priscilla Parker were sisters.

Etha Parsons Yohe was descended from both Billie Parsons through her
mother and from Billie's brother Will Peter Parsons through her father.
Etha Parsons (Yohe) writes that William Parsons b. May 6, 1769
married, on 7 Dec. 1786, Priscilla Parsons, identifying her as a sister
of George Parker of Job and the aunt of Katherine Truitt Parsons, 'mother
of my father Wash (Isaac Washington) Parsons.' I believe that she confused
Katherine's father George Truitt of Job with George Parker of Elisha, as
yet another record states that George Parker's father was Elisha.

I believe that this establishes that George, Priscilla and Betsy Parker
were siblings, and children of Elisha who died ca 1787:
Elisha Parker's will proved 1787 mentions a wife (no name given) 4 sons
(Samuel Turner Parker, John Parker, Elisha Parker, and George Parker) 5
daughters (Mary Hearn, Abigail Turner, Betsy Parker, Rebekah Parker, and
Prissey Parker) a grandson Elisha Turner, and a son-in-law Henry Turner.

Note that Betsy, Prissey and George are all named.

Further, note that Priscilla Parker Parsons named one of her sons for
her brother, George Parker Parsons, and another Elisha Collins Parsons
after her father. Etha Parsons Yohe's mother's grandfather was
Elisha C. Parsons, so I give her statement some weight.

I really do not have much room for doubt that William J. (Billie) Parsons
married Priscilla Parker.

Clear skies,
Al
+---------------------------------------------------------+
|Al Wootten, Slacktide, Sturgeon Creek at the Rappahannock|
|Astronomer (http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~awootten/) |
|genealogy homepage http://members.tripod.com/~astral |
|Deltaville, Virginia (804)776-6369 |
+---------------------------------------------------------+

This thread:

• Priscilla's maiden name by Al Wootten <>